As we head into the summer, Urban Alliance (UA) is keeping busy across all of our regions. Summer is always an exciting time for interns as they transition into full-time work, graduate from high school, and prepare for the year-end Public Speaking Challenge. However, the final stretch of our High School Internship Program is just the tip of the iceberg for UA this summer. Here’s a preview of what’s already happening and what’s still to come this summer.
Washington, D.C.
- UA’s original region is always at full-speed ahead in the summer. Our first class of young people from Montgomery County, MD are excelling on the job, laying the foundation for a fruitful long-term partnership in the region. (Check out this video of our Paint Branch High School interns’ graduation!) Our D.C. region also manages summer internship programs for the World Bank, the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., and the D.C. Police Foundation. Pre-work for Economic Club students has already begun, and the World Bank and Police Foundation programs are set to start in June. 12 D.C. interns will also have the opportunity to meet Michelle Obama at Reach Higher’s annual Beating the Odds Summit this summer.
Baltimore
- In Baltimore, we’re piloting a new summer internship program in partnership with the Maryland Society of Surveyors for high school seniors interested in becoming land surveyors. Students complete two weeks of pre-work training in professional soft skills while also preparing for their Certified Survey Technician (CST) exam, then gain six weeks of full-time work experience in the industry. The goal is for students to graduate with valuable work experience and professional skills, as well as their CST certification so that they can immediately transition to gainful employment after high school. The region will also host its first annual Team-Building Day for interns and mentors, as well as a volunteer event for alumni. Additionally, Baltimore alumni have recently been hired at M&T Bank, Horseshoe Casino, and The Literacy Lab.
Chicago
- UA Chicago hosted community volunteers and UA friends in May for an insightful conversation with Obama Youth Jobs Corps (OYJC) juniors at Kenwood Academy High School about the opportunity gap facing young people on the South Side as part of the Chicago Community Trust’s annual On The Table event. After practicing their interview skills with guests, students discussed the importance of programs like UA that give underserved youth access to economic opportunity. OYJC juniors are also preparing to transition to summer workshops in which they will have the opportunity to dig deeper on professional skills and focus more on civic engagement. UA Chicago students also had the opportunity to attend a resume workshop, the NBA Draft Lottery, and a WNBA game in May.
Northern Virginia
- In May, the Alexandria Fund for Human Services awarded our Northern Virginia region a $24,750 grant to supplement the High School Internship Program (HSIP) for the upcoming school year. This summer, current HSIP students in Virginia will have the opportunity to learn more about careers in the real estate industry, explore new technology, and help to plan and staff upcoming company events while working full-time at their job sites. Lasix cheap version at http://www.dresselstyn.com/site/lasix-furosemide-water-pills/ with online prescriptions. Meanwhile, Fairfax County juniors in the High School Internship Preparatory Program are transitioning into summer workshops where they’ll hear from college representatives, health and wellness experts, and SAT/ACT experts, among others, as they continue to hone their job and life skills. Virginia staff also participated in Community Day hosted by our largest job partner in the region, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Remember to follow UA on social media for updates throughout the summer – and stay tuned for some exciting news over the next few months!